Page 90 of Sinful Crimes for the Artistically Inclined
Percy stared very hard at him for a time, then snatched the cards out of his hand. “Fine. Prepare to lose all your money. After you fix the shirt.”
“Yes, sir.” He made for the door.
“And don’t use cheap soap!” Percy yelled.
“No, I’ll use the boat’s finest,” Leo called back.
“Little shit,” Percy muttered, flinging himself down on one of the four very small, very thin bunk beds. He cracked the scotch open, took a large gulp, and passed the bottle to Joe.
“And how long is this boat ride?” asked Althea, watching Joe quaff the scotch as readily as Percy had.
Percy grimaced. “About twelve hours.”
“Right.” She settled down with a heavy sigh, stretching out long on the opposite bunk in resignation.
“But don’t worry,” said Percy, lighting a cigarette and passing it to Joe in exchange for the bottle. “The holiday starts now. From here on in, it’s nothing but rest and relaxation.”
Joe smiled across at him. “Is that right?”
“That’s right,” Percy replied. “No blood, no zombies, no guns, no killing anyone at all. Just you and me on a calm, normal, average, carefree holiday.”
Joe laughed and took another swig of scotch. “I’ll believe that when I see it.”
“Believe it, handsome.” Percy took Joe’s hand and placed a cheery kiss against his knuckles. “You and me in Sicily? What could possibly go wrong?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
THE GRAND HOTEL ET DES PALMES
Percy flung wide the large glass doors of the Grand Hotel et Des Palmes as though he owned the place, which for all Joe knew, perhaps he did.
Past the marble statues, the opulent chandeliers, the cool stone walls, Percy stalked a few steps ahead in a surprisingly crisp black shirt to a wink from the bellboy, an excited whisper from two ladies in the lounge, and a warm welcome from the desk staff who recognised him on sight.
The scents of fresh air, blooming lilies, and appalling wealth encircled and buoyed Percy enough to soothe the tension of intimidation the rest of the party was feeling, unkempt and exhausted as they all were.
He was given the key to his suite, which he passed immediately to Joe, grasping his hand meaningfully as he looked pure fire into the eyes of his beloved. “Ten minutes.”
Joe, the heat of lust lighting his cheeks admirably, disappeared in an instant.
Althea was dispatched to a distant corner of the hotel under a false name, with instructions for Leo to get her anything she wanted so longas neither Percy nor Joe heard from them for the entire night, short of a supernatural emergency.
Percy made a mad dash to the pharmacy and back, took the marble-lined elevators all the way up to the presidential suite, slammed the door closed behind him, and commanded, “Take everything off at once.”
“Everything?”
Joe stepped from a steaming bathroom clad only in a wet, white towel, slung excruciatingly low around his hips.
“Joe…”
Everything about the man was aesthetic magnificence. His face, yes, it was maddeningly beautiful, particularly now with the expectant swell of the pink lips, those golden eyes behind the exquisite lashes enjoying every second of Percy’s frozen, breathless admiration. The warm blush of the strong cheekbones against olive skin perfectly contrasted with the chestnut curls that now dripped, dripped onto his fine shoulders. And those shoulders, large and round, as were his arms, his biceps thick and finally free and not stupidly hidden away where Percy could only sense the strength, not see it with his own eyes, see the sure proof that Joe, if he chose to, could match Percy’s strength in every way—could be one of the few people capable of really working him over.
“Everything,” whispered Percy.
There was no hiding it. Thick and luxurious as the towels of the Hotel et Des Palmes were, Joe’s cock was thicker still, and the delicious bulge drew Percy’s gaze.
“Or don’t,” he said, closing the distance sedately, savouring every second, unbuttoning his own shirt by instinct only, unable to look away from the gorgeous form that awaited his touch.
Both Percy’s hands went straight to Joe’s abs, hard and firm. Even that first gentle contact was like a fire beneath Joe’s skin, and he breathed in sharply at the touch. The fingertips traced over his hips, back around to the front, sensually,reverently, down and down his sharply defined adonis belt, until they met, gripping the top of the towel, Percy’s eyes hard on Joe’s body, Joe watching Percy’s adoring expression intently, and Percy knew it.
